Mother Dairy eyes Saurashtra-Kutch region

RAJKOT: Mother Dairy, with a collection of around six lakh litres a day from Saurashtra, is emerging as a competitor to Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which has a collection of 10 lakh litres a day from the region.

The Mother Dairy, run by Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Private Limited, a subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), has been making its presence felt in Saurashtra and Kutch region and now it aims to procure milk from the entire Saurashtra and Kutch regions within the next two to three years.

According to M M Bhatt, General Manger, NDDB, Dairy Services (Gujarat Operation), Mother Dairy procures milk from 2100 villages and they will cover 500 more villages this year and it targets to cover about 4,400 villages in Saurashtra and Kutch region within the next three years from milk procurement.

"This year we plan to increase 25 % more milk procurement from the region and would expect to reach 6.5 lakh litres per day. We have installed bulk milk coolers at total 63 locations in Saurashtra and Kutch area and we are going to add 13 more Bulk Milk Coolers within the next few months to facilitate our milk procurement activity,'' Bhatt said.

"Initial milk procurement was 8,500 litres per day from 128 villages in the end of 2005. We have reached the peak of 6.8 lakh litres milk collection from 2100 villages in 2011,'' he added.

In year 2005, NDDB took over the dairy plants and cattle feed factory from Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation Ltd, which was established in 1973 and owned by state government with the objective to promote dairy development on co-operative lines in the underdeveloped areas of Saurashtra and Kutch.

NDDB refurbished and restarted the Junagadh dairy having capacity of 1 lakh ltr/day with a view to develop milk procurement and animal husbandry activities in Junagadh region. Thereafter, NDDB has restarted three chilling centres-Talala, Kutiyana, and Chalala.

According to Mother Dairy officials, at present, Mother Dairy's Junagadh and Madhapar dairy plants processes liquid milk in pouch packing for consumers of Saurashtra and Kutch and manufactures white butter, skimmed milk powder and ghee. Daily 3 lakh ltr of liquid milk and butter milk under "Mother Dairy" brand are supplied to cities of Saurashtar and Kutch.

"The Dairy activity is going to benefit to villagers as milk procurement price which was Rs 205 per kg fat rate has risen to present price of Rs 450 per kg fat rate. This year, we will be paying Rs 13.5 crores as price incentive to their milk producers. Mother Dairy has expanded the milk processing capacity of Junagadh Dairy and set up new milk powder plant having capacity of 30 MT per day in 2010,'' said officials.

Saurashtra Kutch Districts - Pass percentage in Gujarat State Average

The pass percentage of the Saurashtra Kutch region was slightly less than the overall state result.

While the average pass percentage of the state was 69.16, the same for the region comprising eight districts was 66.16.

District-wise, Surendranagar registered the second best pass rate in the state at 80.12 per cent while Rajkot stood fourth with 76.03 per cent.

Students from the desert district of Kutch fared well, as a result of which the district registered pass percentage of 70.32.
Amreli recorded the lowest pass percentage in the region with little over 56, followed by Porbandar (58.86 per cent), Jamnagar (60 per cent), Junagadh (61 per cent) and Bhavnagar (67 per cent). Centre wise, Mahuva in Bhavnagar recorded the highest pass rate at 88.12 per cent, followed by Dhoraji in Rajkot, which registered 83.84 per cent result.

Pass percentage in urban centers, including Rajkot City, Jamnagar City, Bhavnagar City, Surendranagar City, Junagadh City, Porbandar City and Kutch, remained between 71 and 58. Rajkot District saw the maximum number of students (35) securing A grade (91 to 100 per cent) in the region, followed by Bhavnagar (25), Surendranagar (16), Kutch (11), Junagadh (9), and Jamnagar (7).

In Amreli and Porbandar Districts, no student could get the highest grade.

Most of the students from across the eight districts got Grade C1 (51 to 60 per cent).

Wankaner prince joins BJP

RAJKOT, Date :- 20/06/2011 : Kesridevsinh Zala, 28, yuvraj of erstwhile princely state of Wankaner in Rajkot district, on Sunday joined BJP in the presence of chief minister Narendra Modi at the royal palace. On Sunday, over 18 royal families of Saurashtra region felicitated Modi for the development work he has carried out.

Kesridevsinh Zala's father Digvijaysinh Zala has been a Congress leader and was a Union environment minister. However, he is not active in politics since the past few years. The felicitation memento describes various schemes and works carried out by the Modi government and praises him for Vibrant Gujarat summits. It says that "people want you (Modi) to be a prime minister and we wish you to achieve this as you are a 'rajpurush'".

While welcoming Modi, Shivbhadrasinhji Gohil of erstwhile princely state of Bhavnagar, described the definition of 'kshatriya' and said, "I would say that in my opinion, there are two kshatriyas by their karma. One was Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel and the other is Narendra Modi." Gohil said, "Royal families have been pro-people in their rule and have provided best examples of development."

"This is the first time that the chief minister and royals from the princely states from across the region got together. Modi's work has been inspirational for many and is model one," said Digvijaysinh Zala. "Modi has been doing a good job and under his able leadership the state has achieved new heights of progress," said Kesridevsinh Zala.

Modi welcomed Zala to BJP and said times are changing and the youth has a major role to play. "In 1947, all the princely states handed over their 'raj' to the nation and their contribution is unmatched," Modi said. "To give away the rule is difficult,'' he said, hinting at the emergency. Members of erstwhile princely states of Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Sinhori (Rajasthan), Lunavada, Limbadi, Devgadh Baria, Lakhtar, Lathi, Muli, Chuda, Virpur, Balashinor, Patdi, Jetpur, Mansa, Poshina and Sanand were present on this occasion.

Now, water connection for 600 Rajkot factories

Mon Aug 08 2011, 02:19 hrs Rajkot:

 More than 600 factories across Rajkot city, which are functioning without building use permission, will now get water connection. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Standing Committee has passed a resolution in this regard, despite protests from the Opposition Congress.

Local body sanctions water connection only if the building has a completion certificate of building use permission sanctioned by the civic body. This permission is denied where any rules related to town planning has been violated during the construction.



But following strong representation from the industries, the Standing Committee has now given a nod to sanction them a water connection.


As per the resolution passed by the Standing Committee on Saturday, a sum of Rs 2,000 will be charged as deposit fee, and Rs 5,000 as administrative fee for each connection. The tariff will be on industrial rates.


“This is for the development of the industries,” said Standing Committee Chairman Narendra Solanki.



The Congress has, however, put a strong objection against the resolution. Opposition leader Atul Rajani said, “These factories violate the town planning rules and the RMC is rewarding them with water connections.”



The ruling BJP has, however, said that the issue concerns more than 600 factories, most of them functioning on a small-scale basis. Besides, RMC is not giving them any relaxation in rates and taxes while approving the water connections.

Bet Dwarka Dwarkadheesh Mandir Jamnagar

Bet Dwarka which is one of the most popular tourist attractions near the Dwarkadheesh temple in Jamnagar district is all set to be developed along the lines of the stunningly beautiful beach resorts in Malaysia.

Malaysia has developed several of its islands into exotic tourist resorts to boost the country’s tourism scene. The picturesque beaches there attract thousands of visitors, both local and foreign every year.

Now, Bet Dwarka, believed to be the original abode of Lord Krishna according to the archaeological ruins excavated here, is poised to become the tourism hotspot of the state. The Bet Island is famous for its marine life as people throng here to watch the dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and starfish.

Located nearly 30 kms away from Dwarka town, the island does not have hotels and resorts as of now. So, pilgrims and visitors who spend time at the beaches here manage their stay in the hotels in the town.

Now, the state government proposes to develop eco resorts here besides planting trees and developing mangrove plantations.

According to sources in the state tourism department, the Bet Island will have an ocean park like the one in Hong Kong, a marine attraction similar to Dolphin Cove in Jamaica and several water sporting activities.

The central and the state government plan to develop a National Coral Marine Zone (similar to the one in Australia) here.

A camping site will also be developed at Sundarvan, a nature discovery center in Bet Dwarka.

The island, also known as Bet Shankhodhar, will have a giant statue of Lord Krishna.

The Bet has 31 temples and several mosques and gurudwaras. Other important attractions in the Bet are Hanuman Dandi and the Padmeshwar Mahadev Temple, where state government is planning to develop a sunset point for visitors.

As per Latest Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas Interviews, he said that, “The blueprint of Bet Dwarka development project is ready. The makeover of the island will be done in public-private partnership. Central government is also helping us develop the island. The project is expected to be completed by December next year.”

Saurashtra's 900 cr diamond industry wants more security

RAJKOT: The entire diamond industry of Saurashtra was in a state of mourning over the blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday. The industry was aggrieved as one of the victims in the serial blasts was diamond trader Bhupat Navadia (45), a native of Umarda village in Gandhda taluka of Bhavnagar. His last rites were performed at Umarda village on Friday in the presence of hundreds of people.
Navadia had an office on the the first floor of Prasad Chamber and lived on Mira Road in Mumbai. He was was on his way to meet his friends when the blast at Opera House left him dead. The deceased's body was brought to his native village for the final rites.
The serial blasts in Mumbai has shaken the diamond traders in Bhavnagar. They have demanded that they be given security. Saurashtra's diamond industry is worth Rs 900 crore and provides employment to over 3 lakh people in the diamond cutting and polishing business, said traders, adding that major diamond units are located in Bhavnagar and Amreli districts.

"There are about 2,200 diamond polishing units in Bhavnagar district. They provide employment to around 2 lakh people. We have been demanding more security at our trading centres. We also want the state government to bring the import and export business to Gujarat from Mumbai," president of Bhavnagar Diamond Association Vithal Mendapara said.
"Surat and Saurashtra have an immense potential for diamond import and export business," he added.
"The diamond business provides a sustainable livelihood to even families of farmers. There is a great future for diamond industry in Saurashtra. The state government should create an atmosphere of security so as to help the industry flourish," president of Amreli Diamond Association Lalit Thummar said.
Thummar said there are 1,450 diamond polishing units in Amreli district. They provide employment to over 60,000 people in the district.

Jul 15 2011 : Times of India.

Now, Surat MJP chief rejoins BJP

Tue Jul 12 2011, 03:39 hrs Surat: 

After Saurashtra, Surat was considered a stronghold of the fledgling Mahagujarat Janta Party comprising BJP renegades. But the exodus back to the parent party from MJP ranks has begun here as well.


Surat city MJP president Arvind Rana rejoined the BJP at a function here on Sunday evening.



His resignation came close on the heels of Saurashtra MLA Balu Tanti who rejoined the BJP a week ago. Rana was the chairman of standing committee and town planning committee in the civic body during his stint with the BJP.


Previously, MJP leaders Ranjit Chimna, Nalin Kadiwala and Hasmukh Jogani had rejoined the BJP.



Rana, who lost the civic polls on an MJP ticket by 2,400 votes said: “We did a lot of hard work and spent sleepless nights during elections, but achieved nothing. The wave is in favour of the BJP. People came to our public meetings to show their support, but voted for the BJP in the elections.”